Dendrimer-palladium complex catalyzed oxidation of terminal alkenes to methyl ketones

Silica-supported polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with different spacer lengths were prepared. After the introduction of diphenylphosphino groups, complexation to dibenzylidenepalladium(0) gave the desired silica-supported dendrimer-palladium catalyst complexes GO to G4-C2-Pd. These catalysts showed activity towards the oxidation of terminal alkenes to methyl ketones. A dependence of catalytic activity on the spacer length of the diamine in PAMAM was observed.